The narrow mountain path stretched ahead of them, winding through jagged cliffs and dense foliage. Lusi's body still ached from their previous encounter, but there was no time for rest. The enemy was getting closer, and they needed to find a safe route. Despite her fatigue, her senses were sharp, every step calculated.
Wushi, walking slightly ahead, was unusually silent. His expression had darkened ever since they'd encountered the ambush in the forest. He seemed to be lost in thought, his eyes scanning the terrain ahead but his mind clearly elsewhere. Lusi stole glances at him, wondering what troubled him so deeply.
"You seem more tense than usual," Lusi remarked, trying to lighten the mood despite the dire situation. "I hope you're not losing your edge."
Wushi glanced back at her, his lips curving into a brief smirk. "I'm just thinking about the assassins. Whoever is after us is more persistent than I anticipated."
His words carried a weight of concern. Lusi didn't doubt Wushi's abilities, but she couldn't ignore the fact that these attacks were becoming more frequent, more dangerous. It was as if someone was deliberately tracking their every movement.
"We'll figure it out," Lusi said confidently, though inwardly she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled over her since the last attack. "We've faced worse before."
Wushi nodded, but his silence lingered.
As they pressed forward, the path grew narrower, forcing them to move closer together. The cliffs on either side seemed to loom over them, casting long shadows across their path. The air was cooler here, the wind howling through the rocks like an ominous whisper.
Suddenly, Wushi halted, his hand flying out to stop Lusi. He crouched down, his sharp eyes focused on the ground. "Tracks," he muttered, his tone low and serious. "Fresh ones."
Lusi knelt beside him, examining the faint footprints. Her brow furrowed. "How many?"
"Two, maybe three. They're moving quickly," Wushi replied, rising to his full height. "We're not alone on this path."
Lusi's heartbeat quickened. Their enemies were close—too close. Without wasting another moment, they continued forward, but now with an added urgency to their steps.
Minutes passed in tense silence, the only sound being the crunch of gravel beneath their boots and the distant call of birds overhead. The winding path opened into a small clearing, and just as they stepped into it, a shadow moved swiftly from the trees.
"Get down!" Wushi barked, grabbing Lusi and pulling her to the ground just as an arrow whizzed past them, embedding itself into a nearby tree trunk.
They rolled together, Lusi landing on top of Wushi, the sudden motion leaving them momentarily stunned. For a second, Lusi was pressed against his chest, her breath caught in her throat. Their eyes locked, and for a heartbeat, the chaos around them seemed to fade. Wushi's hands were firmly around her waist, and for a split second, she could see the conflict in his gaze—a mix of concern, protectiveness, and something else she couldn't quite name.
Lusi quickly pushed herself off of him, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Sorry!" she muttered, scrambling to her feet.
Wushi was already on his feet, scanning the trees for the attacker. His voice was calm, but his grip on his sword was tight. "No time for apologies. They're closing in."
Without hesitation, he charged toward the source of the arrow, his blade flashing in the fading sunlight. Lusi followed closely behind, her poisoned needles ready.
The forest erupted into chaos as their attackers revealed themselves, emerging from the trees with deadly precision. There were more of them than Lusi had anticipated, and they moved with calculated precision. But this time, Lusi and Wushi were prepared.
Wushi's swordsmanship was unmatched, his movements a blur as he cut through the enemies with ease. Lusi danced through the chaos, her needles finding their marks with deadly accuracy. They fought together seamlessly, their rhythm perfectly in sync.
As the last of their attackers fell, Lusi and Wushi stood side by side, catching their breath. The clearing was littered with bodies, and the air was thick with the scent of blood.
Lusi wiped the sweat from her brow, her heart still racing. "That was too close."
Wushi nodded, his gaze still scanning the horizon. "We can't stay here. Whoever sent them won't stop. We need to find out who's behind this and why."
Lusi agreed, though her mind was still replaying the brief moment of closeness they had shared. She couldn't afford to be distracted—not now. They had bigger problems to deal with. But as they continued down the path, her thoughts kept drifting back to that fleeting moment, wondering if it had meant as much to Wushi as it had to her.
With the enemy lurking in the shadows and the danger growing with each step, Lusi and Wushi's bond was being tested. Their journey was only beginning, but the path ahead was fraught with uncertainty. One thing was clear, though—they would have to rely on each other more than ever to survive what was coming.